The water levels on Lake Travis are back up to
within just a few feet from their average for this time of year, and
marina owners are starting to feel safer about moving their docks in.
The weather has kept the lake nearly empty as of late, but now the sound around the shore line is one of work being done.
At Windy Point Park, Travis County park workers were doing their best to keep up with the lake levels.
"With the water coming up like this here, we've been
having to pull this dock in twice a day. I pulled it in yesterday
around three o'clock, and this morning it was probably half way under.
Had to go back in there and swim out after again and bring it back in,"
Richard Ochoa said.
With this last week's rain, docks
small and large are being brought back inland. Emerald Point Marina
General Manager Doug Powell said they waited to make sure the lake was
back to normal before they moved all their docks in.
"We were a little hesitant because we just weren't
sure that it was going to fill back up. The most recent rains have
taken care of those doubts. Now we have a full lake. Now we'll begin to
move all of the docks back to their normal locations," Powell said.
Dealing with drought has been expensive. At its lowest
point last year, Lake Travis water levels fell to below 630 feet. They
have risen by almost 40 feet since then.
Emerald Point spent $300,000 moving their docks out when the water subsided.
"We had a crew of four people that have done almost
nothing for a year and a half but move docks. And at the worst, at the
lowest lake level, we actually brought a crew in from a sister marina
in Atlanta Georgia to assist us," Powell said.
The low levels have not been the only expense for
business owners. With the economy the way it is, Powell said the lake
has not been getting as much traffic.
"I anticipate that's gonna change greatly. We'll have
a full lake. It's Texas. We'll have plenty of sunshine. I think this
will be a big summer for us," Powell said.
It will cost Emerald Point Marina another $100,000 to
move its docks back closer to shore. The reason for the cheaper cost,
they say, comes from not having to buy extra materials.